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Topic Review (Newest First)

10-11-2011 03:09 PM

LucyLoofa

^ +1
I plan on getting some vals for my low tech nano setups.
They're supposed to thrive in low light and high light is what I hear. I hope they work ouf for you! I think they would look beautiful in there! They definitely have the height to fill that vase! And seeing fish or shrimp roam through them would be so nice!

10-11-2011 03:03 PM

Newman

yes, avoid all softwood trees.

vals can grow in lower light too as well as the norm. mine did very well at 2wpg.

10-11-2011 07:18 AM

atom

Newman, thanks for the tip on the vals. It could be turning red, but some parts of the leaves are also turning transparent too. I'm looking into increasing the lighting.

I'll look out for branches now. Are there certain types that I should avoid?

10-11-2011 06:53 AM

Newman

vals- the tips that have been trimmed will likely turn brown. watch for new leaves sprouting soon if the plant is healthy. also untrimmed leaves can develop a reddish color at the tips or wherever the lighting is highest. not a concern unless the leaf is falling apart completely and the plant isnt growing. increasing leaf length is a great sign.

branches- boiling AND baking are my favorite methods. boiling even helps them sink faster and leaches out the tannins.

10-11-2011 06:48 AM

atom

Nice catch! I love cichlid stones because they offer shrimp room to hide and also they don't take up valuable water volume in a small space. I was debating getting a larger size, but it will take up too much room.

I don't have any new photos yet, but the Vals are definitely turning brown on the tips. I don't think this light is going to work. I looked up the ebay light you suggested, but they don't seem to ship to canada. I was considering this light: http://www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/sm...-32-led-s.html

As far as collecting branches outside. What is the protocol for treating them before putting them in the tank? Boil or bake? Bleach?

10-10-2011 03:48 PM

TactusMortus

I just realized you are using a cichlid stone I love them! Oh and it is time for an update!

10-06-2011 04:39 PM

Newman

try looking for thin branches outside...forests, parks, riversides...

10-06-2011 03:08 AM

atom

I just can't seem to find any thin branches with the right shape that I am looking for. I'll just have to wait till my LFS gets another shipment.

I have never had vals before so this will be an experiment for sure. That is an ikea light right now.

I am second thinking the amanos. They are just too big, but maybe I'll get some yellow shrimp. Hmm...or a lone Mexican Dwarf cray?

10-04-2011 08:17 PM

TactusMortus

Thanks I think your tank is looking great as well. I do think you would benefit from another piece of wood as well. If shipping weren't so expensive I would ship you some of my manzanita scraps. The light I got was the 36 led aquatop one they sell on [Ebay Link Removed] However I do not think the val you have would make it with that low light. I could be wrong though. As I have had a couple of val in a tank in my garage survive with only indirect lighting from another tank for several months. Is that an Ikea light you are running right now?

No ferts I just use root tabs I wonder if I would benefit from using ferts I am just worried with such a small amount of water. I think I will wait until I see a deficiency.

The good news is I have had at least a dozen or more shrimp give birth in my tank so I have an overload of shrimp now probably nearly 250. I am starting to think I might want to move out the bigger shrimp and just leave the small guys.

10-04-2011 07:22 PM

atom

Thank you TactusMortus. I loved your tanks. I can't wait to see updated pictures. I wonder if the ebay light is the same one I was considering. Do you dose any ferts at all?

The tank you got your inspiration from is mine and I decided to switch out from the standard cfl bulb and went with a clamp on led light one of the ones off of ebay it is only 3watts I believe which I thought I would test out and if the plants died I would find another option. However I only had to remove one plant which was my didiplis diandra. I now have myrio green, anubias nana petite, fissidens fontanus, rotala rotundafolia, and anubias nana and they are all growing great. Especially the myrio green I went on vacation for a week and when I returned it was nearly growing out the top of my vase. It was so crowded in there I could not believe it.

The bonus of having the light is it looks great so good in fact I was able to move the tank to my family room and use it as a table lamp of sorts. I will post some new pictures later. Apparently aquatop will soon be releasing a 60 led version which sports 6 watts of led lighting. When they do that I will probably pick that up. You should look into them they work great on these vases. They also have the option of running either blue, red, green, white, or any combination of those led's at the same time.

10-04-2011 05:43 PM

TactusMortus

The tank you got your inspiration from is mine and I decided to switch out from the standard cfl bulb and went with a clamp on led light one of the ones off of ebay it is only 3watts I believe which I thought I would test out and if the plants died I would find another option. However I only had to remove one plant which was my didiplis diandra. I now have myrio green, anubias nana petite, fissidens fontanus, rotala rotundafolia, and anubias nana and they are all growing great. Especially the myrio green I went on vacation for a week and when I returned it was nearly growing out the top of my vase. It was so crowded in there I could not believe it.

The bonus of having the light is it looks great so good in fact I was able to move the tank to my family room and use it as a table lamp of sorts. I will post some new pictures later. Apparently aquatop will soon be releasing a 60 led version which sports 6 watts of led lighting. When they do that I will probably pick that up. You should look into them they work great on these vases. They also have the option of running either blue, red, green, white, or any combination of those led's at the same time.

10-04-2011 04:18 PM

Newman

just put a daylight CFL over it.

also vals will require constant trimming, but never trim too low or youll kill the plant.

i think shrimp are indeed best for this. if you want fish you can try least killifish.

10-04-2011 01:11 PM

londonloco

I think you've done a great job, vase looks great! Not sure I would add anything else....

10-04-2011 06:36 AM

atom

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Here is an update. I moved in some Valls and anubias nana. I really want to add a few smaller branches, but I'm having a hard time finding the right looking ones. Hopefully the vall won't need too much trimming.

I have some white clouds in there right now for cycling, but I might remove them sooner. They are a bit cramped. I'm going to leave it unheated. Thinking of keeping amanos and maybe cherries in there.

Still trying to decide what to do with the lighting situation.

10-02-2011 11:32 PM

Newman

IMO it looks plenty natural right now if much skinnier branches are placed among that thicker branch. in the wild, branches fall into the water every-which way lol. plus right now it looks like the OP wants to mimic some roots or something.

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